Wait Til Next Year 4.0

[Trendy Bastard]

Ah, the 2014 season is among us. It was a long offseason to be a Chicago Cubs fan. The swing and miss on Tanaka, and the inactivity in free agency. The Cubs did make some moves, though:

-November 7, 2013 Named Rick Renteria manager and agreed to terms on a three-year contract.
-November 22, 2013 Named Brandon Hyde bench coach, Gary Jones third base/infield coach, Bill Mueller hitting coach, Mike Brumley assistant hitting coach and Jose Csatro quality assurance coach. Promoted director of amateur scouting Jaron Madison to director of player development and national and regional crosschecker Matt Dorey to director of amateur scouting.
-November 26, 2013 Acquired C George Kottaras from Kansas City for a cash consideration.
-December 12, 2013 Acquired OF Justin Ruggiano from Miami for OF Brian Bogusevic.
-December 13, 2013 Claimed RHP Liam Hendriks off waivers from Minnesota (AL).
-December 16, 2013 Agreed to terms with LHP Wesley Wright on a one-year contract.
-December 23, 2013 Claimed RHP Brett Marshall off waivers from the New York Yankees.
-December 27, 2013 Agreed to terms with RHP Jose Veras on a one-contract.
-February 13, 2014 Agreed to terms with RHPs Jason Hammel
-February 15, 2014 Agreed to terms with UT Emilio Bonifacio on a minor league contract.

I personally think DeJesus, Hairston, Marmol, and (one of)Baker/Feldman will all be dealt before August 1st. Possibly Garza. Soriano unlikely.

Pretty spot on post last year. A Soriano trade was unlikely, but it still managed to happen!

2014 is looking to be just as brutal as the last two years. However, we do have a few things to look forward to. The minor league system is highly ranked by almost every analyst with the number four pick coming along soon.

Baez had a crazy good 2013 season and will likely start the year in AAA Iowa. Will he continue to dominate pitching? Can he cut back on the strikeouts and legitimize himself as a top 5 MILB prospect? If he forces is way onto the Major League roster this season, where will he play? Will he take over at 2B or 3B? Or will he move Castro from short or from the team all together?

My prediction: Baez gets the call around late June and takes over 2B full time.

Bryant, the #2 overall draft pick, had a lot of success in his short professional career. He's likely to start in AA Tennessee. Many around the league believe he's going to have to move from 3B at some point. Bryant has said he wants to stick at 3rd, but he's going to have to prove that he has what it takes. This shouldn't be a big deal though, Bryant's bat projects to fit anywhere on the field.

My prediction: Bryant dominates AA pitching and finds himself in AAA to finish the season. Fans will be pissed when he doesn't get a September Call Up.

The player that I will be keeping an eye on this spring will be 3B Mike Olt. Reports are coming out that he finally feels 100% after the concussion issues that robbed him of his 2013 season. He went from being dominant in AA (with a September call up) to not being able to hit in the PCL. Olt blamed his vision for the 2013 struggles and claims he has finally found a solution with medicated eye drops. I'm cautiously optimistic on Olt. But I fear this is all fluff just like Brett Jackson's swing being "fixed" going into 2013.

My prediction: Olt has a 'meh' Spring and ultimately splits time at 1B/3B in Iowa. He puts up decent numbers and finds himself in the majors in September.

And last of all, the elephant in the room: Jeff Samardzija. He and the Cubs still haven't been able to find middle ground in a contract extension making Shark the main point of trade discussions. Will he re-sign with the Cubs? Or will he find himself pitching for his next contract on a new club?

My prediction: Shark continues to put up mediocre numbers despite good looking peripherals. Traded to contending club for a top flight pitching prospect.

[Trendy Bastard]

Baez's solo blast | MLB.com

[Tobywan]

Go Cubbies!!! Wooo, Trendy it's almost here! A new season, a new start, a clean slate!

[Trendy Bastard]

Watching my first Spring Training game today. Cubs are already down 3-0 to the Mets. Mid season form already! Woo!

I'm pretty much here just to watch Baez. I hope Bryant makes it into the game at some point.

[Trendy Bastard]

Rizzo finally hits his first home run of the Spring!

[Trendy Bastard]

Baez rolls one over to 3rd in his first AB.

[Trendy Bastard]

Rizzo hits another! 4-3 Mets

[Trendy Bastard]

Baez gets jammed, hits a chopper to 2nd.

[Trendy Bastard]

Mets are up 9-4 in the bottom of the 9th. Rizzo was awesome. That's about it.

Sure was nice finally watching a ballgame though.

[Trendy Bastard]

The second game of the season tonight.

Edwin Jackson vs. Charlie Morton. I'll be listening at work and hopefully will get home in time to see the Cubs first win of the season!

Or Castro, Rizzo, and Olt could go 0-10 with 5 K's again.

Or Jackson could give up a billion homers per 2013.

[Trendy Bastard]

Lol this lineup is brutal. Feels like 2013 still.

[Witlon]

Fucking Bonifacio is getting on my nerves...

And with being picked off twice and two games, he's probably getting on Cubs fans nerves, too.

[Trendy Bastard]

I hated him when he got picked off earlier, and now I like his swag.

[Trendy Bastard]

Plenty of time for another walk off though.

[Witlon]

(I certainly hope so, but this isn't the thread for my anti-cub wishes. )